Grafton father facing weapons charges after alleged assault on son

GRAFTON 
A 52-year-old Follette Street man who police say was found with several illegal high-capacity firearms in his home after he allegedly beat his son in the head with a claw hammer was ordered held on $25,000 cash bail in Westboro District Court Monday.

Steven K. Woskie, 52, of 77 Follette St., is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon (two counts), assault and battery, selling or possessing an assault weapon (four counts), carrying a firearm without a license (seven counts); improper storage of large capacity firearm (eight counts), and possessing ammunition without a firearm identification card.

At his arraignment in Westboro District Court Judge David Locke set bail at $25,000 cash or $250,000 with surety. The judge also ordered Mr. Woskie to surrender all his firearms to the Grafton Police Department, refrain from any drug or alcohol use and submit to random screenings. If Mr. Woskie is able to make bail, he will be required to wear a GPS.

Police said Mr. Woskie’s ex-wife, Donna Vabulas, called 911 Saturday about 10:20 p.m. after the couple’s son, Jakob Woskie, came to her home at 53 Upton St. with a serious head wound that was bleeding profusely. The son told police that when he and his girlfriend went to his father’s home, the father came out wielding a bat and began yelling at them for no apparent reason.

“An altercation ensued and during the struggle, his father dropped the bat but grabbed a claw hammer and struck Jakob in the head several times,” according to police.

Jakob Woskie was able to get away, and after he and his girlfriend went to Ms. Vabulas’ home, he was taken to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester for treatment.

During the investigation, police were told that Steven Woskie had several loaded, unsecured and possibly stolen weapons in his home. Police said Mr. Woskie did not have a license to have weapons or ammunition.

With a search warrant and assistance from the Central Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council SWAT team, police took Steven Woskie into custody at 2:22 a.m., police said

Police said they seized 10 rifles and shotguns, including a loaded shotgun within arm’s reach of Mr. Woskie’s bed, and a large amount of ammunition. Among the weapons was an AK-47 assault style rifle with three 30-round magazines. Police also confiscated evidence related to the assault on Mr. Woskie’s son.

Police said the son told them his father abuses alcohol and the prescription drug Percocet. He was allegedly under the influence of these substances at the time of the assault.

The ex-wife also allegedly told police that Mr. Woskie had stolen some of the weapons. She said she and her husband had been victims of a home invasion 13 or 14 years ago and she believed the suspects had broken into the house to take back the stolen firearms.

In a news release yesterday, Police Chief Normand A. Crepeau Jr. said the investigation is continuing to determine ownership of the weapons. He said additional charges will be filed if any of the weapons are determined to be stolen. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms will be contacted to assist, he said.